Two young boys are to be questioned by police after a massive blaze ripped through a factory last night.

The Paula Rosa Kitchens Factory on the Water Lane industrial estate, Storrington, was wrecked after a suspected arson attack.

At the height of the blaze, flames shot 50ft into the air and firefighters had to pull out of the building when the roof started collapsing.

There are fears the roof may have contained deadly asbestos but last night's torrential rain reduced the risk of it spreading.

A police spokesman said officers had had initial talks with two boys from the local area. Both are under 16.

He said: "They will be interviewed on a more formal basis, probably tomorrow."

A hundred firefighters worked through the night after the blaze broke out at about 6pm.

Police toured residential roads using a loud hailer to warn people to keep their doors and windows closed.

The building is believed to have been empty when the fire broke out. By the time it was brought under control in the early hours of this morning it had destroyed more than half of the factory, several articulated lorries and three shipping containers.

One witness said: "It was a horrific looking fire and the main factory building was well alight but the fire brigade managed to contain it."

Fire brigade Assistant Divisional Officer Malcolm Cooper said: "There were concerns about whether the roof contained asbestos, but we have since had advice that the risk has been minimised by the weather conditions."

The amount of stock lost and the cost of the damage to the company, which has been in Storrington for almost 30 years and employs about 300 people, is not yet known.

A spokesman for Paula Rosa Kitchens said: "Our manufacturing delivery is as normal and our replacement stock is on order. It is business as usual."

Two firefighters were taken to Worthing Hospital with minor injuries but a brigade spokesman said they were not hurt tackling the blaze.

Both slipped and fell on a concealed pathway while rushing in the darkness to a rendezvous point.

Police confirmed they were treating the fire, which started in a skip outside the building, as arson.